Pitzer in Botswana

  Botswana

• Other Cities in Botswana: 
Gaborone

Term: Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall: Early Aug-Mid Dec Spring: Mid Jan-Late May

Description: One of Africa's most politically and economically stable countries, Botswana is home to 1.8 million people and 226,900 square miles of vast savannas, the Kalahari Desert, and world famous wildlife parks. Botswana's citizens, most of who live in the major cities, towns and villages along the eastern border, enjoy standards of education and economic well-being rivaled on the continent only by neighboring South Africa.

The Core Course: "Contemporary Socio-cultural Issues in Botswana"
The core course offers students the opportunity to study the cultural, historical, social, political, religious, and environmental issues that shape and connect national development. The core course combines a series of lectures given by university faculty and specialists from governmental and non-governmental organizations, readings, and the extensive reflective writing of the Fieldbook with the more experiential components of family stays, internship, and study trips to provide a high degree of cultural immersion and cross cultural learning.

Intensive Setswana Language: The course emphasizes proficiency in speaking and listening in Setswana through a highly communicative language curriculum. 80 hours of instruction are offered in the first month of the program while students are in the village stay. Students continue with a review of Setswana during the "Big Motse" and then additional hours of language instruction in Urban Setswana while in Gaborone. Total instruction is 100 hours. The students continue with Setswana in the Big Motse by completing a workbook and writing a story.

Ethnographic Field Methods in the Botswana Context: This course will provide an introduction to ethnographic field research methods and their application within the cultural context of rural, small town, and urban Botswana communities. Primary methods will include participant-observation and taking field notes, person-centered interview, semi-structured interviews, case study, and survey. Special attention will be given to ethical research practice within a cross-cultural setting and sensitivity to cultural differences in eliciting, analyzing, and triangulating data while attending to reliability and validity.

Directed Independent Study Project: You will explore in-depth an aspect of Botswana through a directed independent study. Projects are guided by local scholars, specialists, or program staff and make take the form of an independent study, apprenticeship in the arts, or an internship. For any of these projects, a significant analytical component in the form of a written report provides the documentation of learning. The program strongly recommends that students select a project that involves field research, oral interviews, ethnography, and other techniques that facilitate cultural immersion over those involving library research. Topic selection may be limited due to available resources and local conditions.

Study Trips: To deepen your understanding of topics covered in the core course, you will travel to various locations in Botswana.

Family Stays: The heart of the Pitzer in Botswana program is the opportunity to live with three different host families representing various parts of the country and key socioeconomic groups. The chance to become a part of each of these families and develop a personal relationship with individual family members is a distinct privilege and provides one of the most meaningful dimensions of the program.

Highlights: Directed Independent Study Projects, Study Trips, and Homestays.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: 25,385.00

Experience Required: yes

Coursework in Southern Africa area studies or Development studies. Open to University/College sophomores, juniors and first semester seniors.

This Program is open to American Participants.

Participants Travel to Botswana in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 4-5

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Transcript
• Written Application